Sheldon arrives at Amy's dressed to attend a funeral and finds her in a bathrobe with the flu. Amy asks if he is going to take care of her per their Relationship Agreement, but Sheldon leaves saying that the clause is so she can take care of him. He plans to return to the movie sequel marathon. Amy says goodnight and Sheldon heads down the hall, but returns to her door and knocks. Sheldon explains that he has a commitment to her in writing to care for her and that as his girlfriend he is concerned about her well-being. This surprises Amy who thanks him though Sheldon still comments, "Now let's get this over with". Howard is sitting with his father-in-law trying to make conversation as dinner is being prepared getting very short answers; his retirement is "fine". Mrs. Rostenkowski's trip to the Grand Canyon was "good". All of Howard's jokes also fall flat and dinner will not be ready for quite a while.

Meanwhile, Sheldon is checking Amy's temperature of 102.2 degrees celcius and it is the same as half an hour before. He tells Amy that she isn't trying to get better. He asks if she believes in the placebo effect and then gives her a Tic Tac, telling her that it is a strong flu medication. Amy doesn't like his bedside manner and tries to get to sleep. Sheldon said that she can't sleep because he is not done taking care of her. He has to put a cold rag on her head, sing to her (presumably "Soft Kitty") and rub VapoRub on her chest which is exactly what his mother did and what Penny did for him when he was sick. Amy perks up and says that he should start with the Vicks. He tells that it might tingle and she replies that she is counting on it.

Sheldon taking care of Amy in lieu of other activities.

At dinner, Howard tells them to dig in, however Mr. Rostenkowski tells him to hold it until they say grace. The subject of Mr. Rostenkowski's weekend fishing trip comes up. Bernadette suggests that Howard go with him so that they can get to know each other better. His mother-in-law looks at her husband and he says that Howard can tag along. Howard tries to remind Bernadette that they have "that thing" to do that weekend. She quickly replies that she canceled "that thing" and the trip is on.

Hooking a worm?!?!?!

Back at the apartment, Howard complains that he doesn't know how to fish and neither do Leonard or Raj. They wonder who knows how to do manly stuff and they end up at Penny's door. First Penny shows Howard how to put a worm on a hook. He can't use words like "ewwww", "icky", and "get it away". Howard first lays the worm across the hook, but Leonard is sure that he has to stab the worm with the hook. Raj and Leonard urge him on. Penny quips that they are cheerleading him and that's not the way to man things up.

Back at Amy's, Sheldon is reading Amy a genetics scientific book like one would read a bedtime story. Amy thanks him and asks for more Vicks' VapoRub. Sheldon disagrees saying that she needs to rest and that the Vicks only gets her all fired up. Bernadette visits Amy to check on her and brings some experimental drugs with some unusual side effects. While Sheldon goes to fix Amy a bath, she admits she has been well for two days and that she has been enjoying Sheldon taking care of her. Bernadette observes that that she doesn't want to be judgmental, but that is the kind of thing that lunatics do. She plans on telling him tomorrow, but Sheldon is now going to help her with her bathing, saying "Mama needs a bath."

Next, Penny shows Howard how to gut a fish. She tells him to take the knife, slice the fish right up the belly, which causes Howard to gag. She asks him if he wants her to stop, but no he's fine and asks her to keep going. She then tells him that he will not want to cut too deep into the fish's guts or the blood will squirt all over Howard's face, which causes all the guys to get queasy. Penny wonders what's wrong with them, but Leonard tells her that it's not their fault since their dads never did anything like that with their sons: Leonard's dad was an anthropologist whose father-son time was spent only with a 2000 year-old skeleton of an Etruscan boy, a kid who Leonard hated; Raj's dad just took Raj to his gynaecology office and Raj got so bored, he'd put vaginal lubricant at the bottom of his shoes and pretend he was ice-skating; Howard's quality father-son time was spending his adolescence looking out the window waiting for his dad to come back some day. Raj then decides that Howard wins, to which Leonard agrees, who says that maybe they didn't have opportunities like that when they were growing up, but now there's a dad who wants to take Howard on a fishing trip. Howard then successfully pulls out the fish's insides and the guys are pleased until Penny points out that it is a female as all the eggs can be seen which causes all the guys to get queasy again.

Punishing Amy. Oh my!

Back at Amy's apartment, she is dancing to "Walking on Sunshine" and drinking a fizzy drink until Sheldon shows up. Amy tells him that she is taking a turn for the worst and needs another bath. Sheldon tells her that he was concerned about her lengthy recovering and took a cheek swab from her and had a throat culture lab report made. Amy looks worried. Then he asks her if she has symptoms of a growing nose or heat in the lower extremities, meaning "liar, liar, pants on fire". Sheldon is disappointed in her since he thought that their relationship was based on trust and mutual respect skewed in his favor. Amy apologizes, but Sheldon thinks that she needs to be punished. First he wants to lock her in the stockade in a public square; however, he feels that that would require a permit. Amy suggests that she should not be allowed to see the premiere of the new Star Trek movie. Sheldon says that that would be overly harsh since she hadn't killed anyone. Sheldon decides to go old school like his father who did not spare the rod. Amy seems fine with Sheldon spanking her and she admits that she's been a very bad girl.

Going fishing with Howard.

Howard shows up for his fishing trip dressed like a cartoon fisherman. Mike also plans to hunt some ducks in the morning. He likes using a big shell so that they explode. Howard says that he does want Mr. Rostenkowski to like him, but he doesn't think that this trip is the best way. Both guys admit that they are only going because their wives want them to go. Howard is surprised that his mother-in-law is telling this "big scary cop" what to do. He replies that Howard is an astronaut doing what his wife says and she's only four feet tall. Since neither wants to go, Mr. Rostenkowski suggests that they go to an Indian casino near Palm Springs. He'll teach Howard how to shoot craps and his son-in-law can now call him "Mike" instead of "Sir". As they get in the truck Howard says that they're married to a couple of ball busters. Mike points out that Howard is referring to his wife and daughter. Howard shoots back that they are a great couple of gals. Mike replies that he wouldn't go that far.

As Sheldon asks Amy if she is prepared for her punishment and she puts on some romantic music so that "the neighbors wouldn't hear her". When she seems to be enjoying it, she suggests that maybe he should spank her harder and he does, which she seems to enjoy even more.

Credits

Critics

The TV Critic: "The Howard-Mike bonding story was about the most basic middle of the road family sitcom story you are likely to see...Amy faking illness to get attention from Sheldon was equally familiar, but quite fun. From her point of view any little step toward intimacy can be a source of both jokes and touching moments...These were two very simple, competently handled, pleasant stories."[2]

Trivia

Bernadette shares no scenes with Penny and the other two men (Raj and Leonard) in this episode.

Despite his disgust for worms, Howard has a proclivity for insects (entomologists), which also usually provoke disgust in individuals. In "The Jiminy Conjecture" (S3E2), Howard said, "I know insects, my friend. I spent many childhood years capturing them with nets, putting them in glass jars, sticking pins through them, mounting them on corrugated cardboard with DYMO labels underneath, identifying the genus and species...in Latin."

Howard, Leonard, and Raj get queasy with the notion of baiting a hook or gutting a fish. Howard was previously revealed to be squeamish in "The White Asparagus Triangulation" (S2E9), as was Leonard. Raj commented that that is: "Answering the question once and for all why Wolowitz bailed out of medical school."

Despite having been seen to have a proper bedroom in her apartment previously, Amy spends her sickness sleeping on the couch in her living room. This was done so they could avoid building a set for her bedroom (the previous set was a temporary redress of Penny's and predated Amy's living room set).

When Sheldon ponders a fitting punishment for Amy's trickery, Amy says, "I could not be allowed to go to the opening of the next Star Trek movie." She is referring to Star Trek Into Darkness, the sequel to J.J. Abram's 2009 film Star Trek.

Second episode where Sheldon says the word "sex" instead of "coitus". The first episode is "The Robotic Manipulation" (S4E1).

Sheldon gets a more intimate view of Amy when he rubs her chest and then baths her in the bathtub. In "The Parking Lot Escalation" (S6E9) Amy showed him her trimmed bikini area.

Bernadette's mother is introduced physically after having made a brief cameo appearance in "The Countdown Reflection". With that episode and this one, Raj and Bernadette are the only ones in the gang whose both parents have been introduced. Penny, as well as Stuart and Emily (later on), now remain(s) the only one(s) whose mother(s) has/have not been introduced in the show.

Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik admitted that they spent a week filming the spanking scene because they kept laughing as they found it really awkward.

Penny has only three scenes in this episode and she shares them with the guys sans Sheldon. She shares no scenes with Bernadette and Amy in this episode either.

Bernadette only has three scenes in this episode:

She has both scenes with Howard and her parents at her and Howard's apartment during this episode.

She has one scene with Amy and Sheldon at Amy's apartment in this episode.

Quotes

Amy: Sheldon, this isn't helping. Why don’t you just let me get some rest.

Sheldon: How can you sleep? I’m not done making you feel better. I still have to put a cold rag on your head, sing to you and apply VapoRub to your chest.

Amy: [Sounding confused.] You, you want to rub something on my chest?

Sheldon: Yes. All over it.

Amy: Maybe we should start with that.

Sheldon: Now you’re being a responsible patient. Now you may notice some tingling.

Amy: Oh, I’m counting on it.

Howard: Sir, I’m flattered that you invited me, and I really want you to like me, but I don’t think this trip is the way to do it. And I can’t return these things if there’s chunks of duck all over them.

Howard: Well, hang on a second, Bernie. Next weekend, we have that thing.

Bernadette: What thing?

Howard: You know, the thing.

Bernadette: Oh, that thing. No, I cancelled that thing.

Mr. Rostenkowski: All right, it’s settled. You and I are going fishing

Howard: Great. (To Bernadette) Thanks for the help.

Sheldon(reading): And the control group displayed significantly fewer genetic abnormalities. But, because of flaws in the experimental design relating to environment and diet, they lived inconclusively ever after. The end.

Amy: That was great. Rub my chest again. (Knock at door)

Sheldon: No. I need to get you down for a nap. And for some reason, that VapoRub gets you all fired up. (Opens door)

Bernadette: How’s the poor thing?

Sheldon: Oh, I’m hanging in there. Thanks for asking.

Bernadette: Okay, Amy, I brought you some drugs we were working on in the lab. This is proving really good for congestion, but there’s a slight chance it can make your tears burn like acid, so if you take it, happy thoughts.